is it okay to be gay?

Over the years, different people have crossed my path. Men, women, older people, younger people, single people, divorced people, families. Each one of them with their own personality, their own preferences and choices in life. I love meeting all different kinds of people, because I'm sure they can teach us so much about life and love.

Some of my friends are straight, others are gay. I even have a girlfriend who loves both men and women. Big deal. Who are we to judge? They are who they are and I hope they are "man" enough to live up to their believes. It must be horrible if you must live your life a lie, because you can't tell your friends or family who you really are.

There's this program on Dutch television: Out of the closet. I like to watch it with the girls. They have no problem with gays either. Why would they? After all, it's not like your preference for men/women is something you can choose, is it? And even if it were: who are we to dislike you for being who you are?
On the last show, this guy was going to tell his friends and family, that he fancied boys. The reporter asked his friends what they thought of gay people. Let's say their comments were not really flattering. Going from: I don't like gay people, over: I don't mind as long as they keep their hands of me, to: I would turn my head if I would spot one. Then this young man tells his friends he needs to make a confession. One of his friends jokes: now don't tell me you're gay! The silence in the room was nerve wrecking. The young man asks his friends to hear him out and he tells them about his preference for men. One of his best friends instantly says: then I have nothing left to say to you.. That really broke my heart... How can your friendship change because of someone's sexual preference? Nothing wrong with that. It's not some disease you have to get over. It's not a choice you should change. It's a preference. It's about love. And it's not nasty. How can love be nasty? Yes, I get all hyped up if people say stupid things like that. I love my gay friends. They are very nice and loving and caring. Wouldn't want to miss them..

Money down the drain

Do you have that same experience, that kitchen appliances bought on TV or on the market are nothing but a waste of money? Have you ended up with devices you have stored away somewhere deep down in your cabinets? Were you embarrassed for the money that went down the drain when you bought that kitchen utensil? I know what you mean.. Those kitchen appliances seem like heaven when demonstrated by professional sellers. They even make you try out the tool right there on the spot. You are being praised like the best chef ever. But of course, when you come home, you all of a sudden become the most clumsy person around. Things don't work the way they were promised. Your mood alters and the catch is no longer that promising. So you hide it in your cabinets, never to appear on your countertop again.

Despite good intentions, my sister-in-law and I were attracted by the presentation of the Nicer Dicer Plus. I had seen the device on TV, earlier that week and I had looked it up on the Internet to check it out. I thought it was pretty awesome, but too expensive (knowing that I have plenty of kitchen appliances). I was interested to hear the market price. No shipping costs and there was a way to try it out for yourself. Yes, we bought one each. My fridge was loaded with crispy vegetables and the fruit bowl was screaming for fruit salad. As soon as I came home, I emptied the fridge and diced up my first cucumber-tomato salad with the Nicer Dicer Plus. The cubes came out real well: truly fine brunoise. Loved it! So I kept going and decided we were going to have stir-fry for dinner. The appliance gave me perfect coarse cubes of zucchini, pepper, onion, carrots, cauliflower. Awesome! American potato wedges, scalloped potatoes, quartered hard boiled eggs: it does the trick!
Just rinsed the blades and the container, before I cubed and sliced the ingredients for a summer fruit salad: mango, pineapple, grapes, apple and melon. Yes, this device is going to cut it! I'm happy! I hear my sister-in-law is as excited. It's been in the dishwasher several times by now and I'm looking forward to using it again. Let me come up with some recipes to fill our plates with perfectly chopped veggies!

Like peas and carrots

We really get along well. Our numerous trips abroad can confirm that. These last three days weren't any different. Joy, laughter, fine dining, shopping, friendship and a wonderful musical. This time, we were guests in the musical Zorro. Who doesn't know Zorro? It's a series we liked to watch as kids. Zorro was handsome and adventurous and sexy. I assume we didn't see the sexiness at such a young age, but we knew he was goodlooking to say the least. In those days, I liked to go horseback riding. My riding was nothing compared to Zorro's skills on a horse, but we shared the same love for horses. The musical was full of Gipsy King songs, another favorite of my youth. I had several tapes (no cd's back then) and I liked the guitars and the southern feeling the music brought me.

Thank you for the organization, the company and the good time. Looking forward to next month's musical!

I shouldn't be alive

Do you ever think you were never meant to be born?
I mean, really, not all children enter this world voluntarily or wanted. What if you were never meant to be born? What if the pregnancy was never meant to happen in the first place? Isn't that a horrible thought? As a child, would you feel not loved or would your parents hold a grudge against you for being born? It would be hard to find out I guess..

There's this series on TV, called: I shouldn't be alive. It's not about unwanted pregnancies, but about friends or families in life threatening situations. How they try their utmost to help the other survive a battle they are doomed to loose. I record this series and watch it at night. Every single time, it amazes me how friends and family help each other without calling themselves heroes. They are there and all that matters at the time, is to make sure the others are okay. With every vessel in their body, they give their best shot helping the others survive. Plane crashes, attacks by grizzly bears, sunken ships in black deep oceans.. Any scenario imaginable, but all so real and scary. People do survive horrible situations and it will definitely strengthen their mutual bond. In some episodes, life wasn't good between some of the family members. The dramatic situation they are in, changes everything. All of a sudden, they have to rely on each other in order to survive. There's no room for fights or feelings of guilt. Nothing but the strong will to survive. It's a wonderful series. You should watch it.

Goosebumps

Every now and then, there are stories that take my breath away. Stories worth mentioning, stories to be shared. Today I would like to share this video with you. There's not much I can say in advance. Just see for yourself and you will know what I mean..

Imagine

Chat 'n Chew

Going out for dinner is always a pleasure, especially in good company. It's something we really like to do: having a chat over a well presented plate of delicious food. The clock ticks away time, but we don't keep an eye on it. Because good times are not supposed to end.

There's this show on TV, called Dinner Date. A single person tries to find his ideal date. Five candidates make their own personal 3 course meal in the hope the single person will pick them. Without having seen anything but the menus, the single person gets to choose 3 favorite dates. He then gets invited into their homes for a romantic dinner date. Some can cook, others are wonderful hosts and sometimes there's no click at all.
At the end of the week, the single person gets to pick his favorite date, based on the cooking skills, the romance and the overall impression of the night. All 3 candidates are supposed to dress up for a night out, but only one gets the chance for a second date, in a romantic restaurant. The other 2 get TV dinners delivered to their houses.

What a great concept! It seems like a lovely way to meet new people. Maybe people should do this in real life too! It would be a challenge. I suppose married people don't do dinner dates?

Handicapable

I'm a big fan of positive thinking and ditto reinforcement. Some words have a negative sound to them, so I try not to use those. Just to give you an idea: how does the word "handicapped" make you feel? Is it a positive feeling or rather a negative experience? Exactly.. So when I first heard the word handicapable (did you know Sue Sylvester - the awful coach in Glee - used the word??), I immediately knew I was never going to use the word handicapped again. Because even disabled (we need to come up with a more positive word for disabled too) people have their qualities. So why not call them handicapable?

Do you use more positive sounding words to replace the negative ones? Let me know! I'm always in to learning new words!

The perfect skin

Lloyd Cole and the Commotions.. Going back in time and reliving memories..
I always thought of Lloyd Cole as a very attractive man. His square jaw, the hair, the look in his eyes, his attitude.. He was a hottie!
I met him once, while attending a TV show where he would sing Rattlesnake and The perfect skin. He looked even better in real life than on television. I actually even got to this dressroom before the show, where he gave me his signature. He asked if he needed a shave or not.. I didn't know what to say, I was too impressed. I was only 14 I guess..

Every now and then, not that often though, I hear him on the radio. And his songs make me smile. He's still a hottie. And he no longer shaves. His beautiful black hair turned grey over the years, but he's still as attractive. Maybe I should buy his music again. Just for old times sake..

Defying gravity

Are you up to date? Do you watch Glee? You know, the series on the singing highschool kids? I first saw an episode of Glee on our way to Florida last January. I was really impressed by the good voices on the show and my intention was to start watching Glee. To my surprise, our daughters had been watching Glee before. And now Glee is back! and I'm their number one fan!

My favorite Glee song so far, is Defying gravity, sung by Rachel and Kurt. I find it very emotional and it makes the little hairs on my arms stand straight. These kids are so devoted to their role as singers/actors and they do real well. I'm hooked! We record every episode, so we can watch it together as a family. I love the enthusiasm of the singers! And isn't Mr Schuester a hottie??? The way the tears well up in his eyes when he listens to his students, his heart filled with pride? He's really awesome! Haha, I sound like a teenager with a crush on her teacher. That is so not true! But I do enjoy the songs, the series, the stories behind the characters. Why not?

I looked into buying the Glee music. Can't wait to play the CD's in my car and sing along. That's a place where I can sing my heart out, without disturbing or annoying anyone. It's very relaxing to sing in the car and let the tension out. So yes, again I have something to look forward to!

Whimper

Five years ago, Belgian journalist Annemie Struyf went to Kenia, to find the family of her adopted daughter Hope. Together with HIV positive Achieng - who had saved the life of baby Hope - Anniemie hopes to learn more about the country and the people of her precious little girl.

As a result of this adventure, there is this moving TV series called "The mother of my daughter". It tells the story of Hope and the life of so many orphans in Africa.. Achieng wanted to create a safe haven where orphans could live towards a bright future in a warm home.

The viewers of "The mother of my daughter" were moved by the series. They raised money for Achieng so she could realize her dream. Hope Home is a place where many orphan babies now get the care and love they would never have got without Achieng.

Five years later, Annemie goes back to Kenia. Her daughter Hope is 7 years old now. Annemie and Achieng keep in touch and are still good friends. They have both a personal and a professional relationship. Project Hope Home is a project they put a lot of effort, time and money in.

In "The sisters of my daughter", Annemie and Achieng look back to what happened five years before. They talk about how their lives have changed ever since. We can see Annemie and Achieng continue their mission. They tell us about life at Hope Home. But they don't hesitate to tell us about the life of young, black girls and women who are fighting to get a better life.

Check the website and open your heart to Annemie, Achieng and all of the orphans out there. They can use all the support we can give. It's Christmas time. Why don't we donate a little extra to Hope Home, so Achieng can continue taking care of these little babies nobody else wants to look after?

Watching the series always makes me whimper. It is so real, so true, so heartbreaking. But it's also motivating and positive, to see that there are still people out there, who are prepared to donate their time, love and energy to innocent children..